different between diligence vs assiduity

English

Etymology

From French diligence.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?l?d??ns/
• Hyphenation: di?li?gence
• The stage-coach sense may be pronounced as in French.

Noun

diligence (countable and uncountable, plural diligences)

1. Steady application; industry; careful work involving long-term effort.
2. The qualities of a hard worker, including conscientiousness, determination, and perseverance.
3. Carefulness.

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   due diligence

4. (historical, 19th century) A public stage-coach.
   • 1818, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Volume 1, Chapter V:

     Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the inn at which the various diligences and carriages usually stopped.
5. (law, Scotland) The process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings.

Synonyms

• worksomeness (rare)

Derived terms

• due diligence

Translations

Anagrams

• ceilinged

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French diligence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?di.li???ns/, /?di.li???n.s?/
• Hyphenation: di?li?gen?ce

Noun

diligence f (plural diligences)

1. (historical) A diligence, a stage-coach.

   Synonym: postkoets

French

Etymology

From Latin diligentia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di.li.???s/

Noun

diligence f (countable and uncountable, plural diligences)

1. (uncountable) diligence, conscientiousness
2. (uncountable) haste
3. (countable) stage-coach, diligence

Derived terms

• faire diligence

Related terms

• diligent

Descendants

• ? Dutch: diligence

Further reading

• “diligence” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “See assiduus”)

Noun

assiduity (countable and uncountable, plural assiduities)

1. Great and persistent toil or effort.
   • 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond

     During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant […]

   • 1845, Jordan Roche Lynch, The Hunterian Oration (page 8)

     With the most patient assiduity he peered into the intricacies of unrevealed structure. No object was too minute, none too large, for his attention.
2. (in the plural) Constant personal attention, solicitous care.
   • 1559, translated by Thomas Paynell: Erasmus, The Complaint of Peace (1521)

     With difficulty could man be born into the world, or as soon as born would he die, leaving life at the very threshold of existence, unless the friendly hand of the careful matron, and the affectionate assiduities of the nurse, lent their aid to the helpless babe.

   • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer

     I will stay even contrary to your wishes; and though you should persist to shun me, I will make my respectful assiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct.

Translations